Shoulder pad



F. GLAHE SHOULDER PAD Feb. 23, v1932.

Filed Jan. 13, 1931 2 SheetS-Shet www.

F. GLAHE SHOULDER PAD Feb. Z3, 1932.

Filed Jan. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE :man GLAHE, or CHICAeo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon To A. e.srALDING a Bacs., orfN'Ew y Yoan, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY nSHOULDER PAD Appication led January 13, 1931. SeriaLNoL 508,434.

The present invention relates to protective devices for use during' theplaying of games, such as football, hockey, etc., and embodies, morespecifically, an improved shoulder pad having portions which are adaptedto conform to the movements of the shoulder during play.

More specifically, the invention includes a shoulder pad, whereinelements are hinged upon an axis permitting them to telescope fpartially in the fashion of the armor plate of an armadillo when theshoulder is moved.

lt is becoming more and more important, particularly in football, toprotect, adequately, a players body, at the same time not impeding thefree movement thereof during play. Existing protective devices haveutilized shoulder pads, wherein the elements are connected as a unitarypad but, when the arm is raised, the construction has been such that thepad strikes the neck and thus hampers the free action of the player. Asit is extremely necessary that the arms and shoulders of a player beunimpeded, particularly for forward passing, exist-ing shoulder padshave been found to be inadequate both in the degree of protectionafforded and in the failure thereof to permit the free movement of theAn object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder pad havingportions which are mounted to turn about axes which permit the partialteleseoping of such portions to enable them to conform to the movementof the players arms during play.

it. further object of the invention is to provide a shoulder pad of theabove construction having means to protect the upper arm and shoulder'of a player in all positions thereof, as well as to provide for the freeand unimpeded movement of such arm at all times.

llmfther objects. not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent asthe invention described in greater detail in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view, partly broken away to illustrate the details ofconstruction, showina' a portion of a shoulder pad constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

. i6 of felt.

Figure 2 is a view in section taken on line 22 of Figure 1, and lookinginthe direction of the arrows.

i Figure 3 is a detail view in section, taken direction of the arrows. o

Referring to the above drawings, a pad `on line 3-3 of Figure 2, andlooking in there?,

is formed with front and rear protective pory tions l1, a slit 13 isformed inthe pad 'ng-t.

16, thus relieving the stiffness of the pad and permitting the resultingstrap portion `le to move with respect to the rest of the pad. The abovedescribed pad is formed with a relatively stiff but flexibleouterlayer-lm 15 of leather' and an inner protectivellayer Along theside ofthe slit 13, adjacent the neck recess, a protective portion-17 issecured, as by stitching 18. portion is formed of an outer layer 19 ofstiff and relatively inflexiblewleather,being provided with an innerlayer 2O of felt or other suitable cushioning substance. The protectiveportion 17 thus extends over the slit and the strip 14 and affordsadequate protection for the top of the shoulder.

An intermediate protective portion 21 is secured to the strip 14 bystitches 22 and thus is `adapted to swing about an aXis passing:`

through the` ends of the slit 13 as indicated by the arrow 23. In thismanner, the intermediate member 21 may swing outwardly in y thedirection indicated by the arrow Q4 and, being underthe portion 19, maythus extend` the effective protecting ability of the deviceconsiderably. The first protective ,portion 19 is preferably formed ofsuch radius that the intermediate member moves in the above describedfashion without restriction andthe strip 14 and member 21 may thus moveeither from a position wherein the slit .13 is closed to a position inthe direction "of arrow 24, wherein the arm is against the players side.

Hinged upon the intermediate member is The protective Ymembers to movefreely with the movements of thearm.y The radius of the Asurface tormtotheside of the slit adjacent the recess and extending over the slit andstrap, a flap secured to the strap and telescopically movable under therst flap, and a lower flap hinged to the second flap and telescopicallymovable thereunder.

This specification signed this 27th day of December, A. D. 1930. FREDGLAHE.

ing the low-er member 25 is so designed that it may freely move underthe intermediate member 2l and thus permit the players arm to be raisedinto any`v desired position with` minimum interferenceand resistancethereto to permit passingandother action to be fully and freely engagedin. A loop 28 may be provided to pass under the players arm and issecured tothe side portions ll'to maintain the that the degree ofprotection aiiorded by the pad is not only increased `over existing det'signs, but the freedom ot movement of the pla-ver is `likewiseincreased. y

While the invention has been described 5I :claim as mv invention;

pad in proper position and it will thus be seen 4with specific referenceto the accompanying f i drawings, it is not to be limited, save asdefined in the appended claims.

l. A protective device having an upper j" protective flap securedthereto, an auxiliary intermediate.protective iap hinged to the deviceand lyinar beneath theupper flap. and a lower protective flap hingedtothe interf y mediate .flap and Vadapted to telescope thereunder.

2. A protective member formed with a slit i providinga strap movablewith respect to the member, a protective flap rigidly secured to themember along one side of the slit and overlying the slit and strap. andaprotective Hap secured to the'strap and movable tele- I scopically withrespect to the rst flap.

v3. A protective member formed with a slit providing' a strap movablewith respect to the member` a protective flap ri =sridly secured to themember along one side of the -slit and overlying the slit andstrap,anintermediate protective flap secured to the strap'and movable.telescopically with respect to the first flap, and a lower flaphingedly secured to the '4 intermediate liap.

4. A protective membertormed with a slit providing a strap movable withrespect to the i member7 a protective flaprigidly secured to the memberalong one .side of` the slit and overlying the slit and strap, anintermediate p protective flap secured tothe strapand movabletelescopically with respect yte the first flap, and a'loweriiapfhingedlysecured to the intermediatelap VVand telescopically mov-.able thereunder.k

v5. A should pad formed with and va. slit in the padfadjacent the recessto form a strap, a protective flap rigidly secured a neck recess Y

